FINALLY!!!! I have pics of our powder room that we tried to knock out in one weekend. Here is what we were originally working with….

Note a few things..the overly scrolly wallpaper, the drapery panel (with more scrolls) used as a shower curtain, the torch style sconces. YUCK! Here’s how it looks now….

As you can see we didn’t drastically change it since we’re on serious budget mode still. But what we did do is tone down the busy-ness of the room and make it a little more soothing.

We replaced the torch scones with Restoration Hardware Bistro Sconces in oil rubbed bronze. I found them for a steal on Ebay! Score! The mirror actually is not the one that was there when we moved in. The original mirror was a rectangular shape..again..with scrolls and doo-dads all over it. We had this one that we had used in a bedroom and decided it would work for now. Eventually I think I’d like to also get the Bistro Pivot Mirror from RH.

We also changed out the rug and curtain to a some nice new ones from RH. The towels are from Home Goods and the paint is BM Grant Beige.

But the room isn’t done folks! Oh no, not at all. Although the vanity doesn’t look so fussy and old lady like anymore, its just not our style at all. I’m considering finding an old dresser and dropping a sink into it, or a pedestal type sink…. What would you do?? What do you think the room still needs?

I love St. Patrick’s Day! Green happens to be one of my fav colors, I love Irish beer, Leprechauns are funny and Ireland is across the water from my fav country…Scotland! Hee hee!

But seriously, every year the thought of corned beef and cabbage just makes me drool. I absolutely love it and it reminds me of my childhood. So of course I have a pot of corned beef brisket simmering away on the stove until this evening when it will just fall apart and be absolutely yummy! Also, this year I attempted Irish Soda Bread..we’ll see how that turns out this evening when we have some with dinner.

Ireland has a soft spot in my heart since it was part of our 1 year wedding anniversary trip back in 2005. I had never been across the pond before and well, being an anglophile…this was a problem! My husband lived in London for a short time on a study abroad right after college. So of course he felt it was his duty to show his girl where he had spent some time in his younger years and tell me all the funny stories of his time there.

I could go on and on about that memorable trip. It seriously was a life changer for me. We even took a very long train ride to Aberdeen, Scotland to see where my family is from and my family castle. Well, if you can call it a castle. But hey, how many people can say they have one of those in their fam right?!

From Scotland we took the ferry ride over to Northern Ireland…. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Northern Ireland not the ferry ride. We were told things were calm, safe and totally normal while we were there. Well, I guess so, but I will say that we got quite a few looks when we would walk back to our bed and breakfast every day which happened to be in the Catholic part of town.

We got a major history lesson taking a taxi ride tour of the murals around Belfast. By the end we were still not sure who was right, who was wrong…it all just seemed like a waste of time and energy fighting.

From Belfast we took another longish train ride down to Dublin which was where we were going to end our trip, spend our actual anniversary night at, and fly home from. We were pretty much exhausted from our two week travels. By the time we got to Dublin all we could think of was….

PUB CRAWL!

Anyone who’s been to Dublin knows of the infamous Temple Bar area. It’s literally pub after pub after pub. We were told by our hotel that many people just do a pub crawl in the area when they visit. And of course, we thought, “yeah that’s a great idea..let’s do that!”. Famous last words.

First bar….we look sober and sweet.

Second bar…still looking relatively composed!

And this is where things start to look ugly! I think the beer is working!

This is the calm before the storm. I remember trying to compose myself as we had lunch.

But obviously, it didn’t work! Smashed!

We had a great time in Ireland. It was beautiful and the people were very friendly. We would love to go back again and see the west coast and get out of the cities a bit.

Happy St. Patty’s Day to you all! I’ll be raising my glass of green beer to you all later!

I have been one busy girl lately! This past weekend as I have been sharing with everyone, quite often, was my trip to the Rose Bowl with Eddie and Jaithan. Our little flea market group wasn’t meeting until 10am Sunday morning, but since the hubby agreed to watch our girl while I shopped I took advantage of my alone time. I got up nice and early and headed over to the Bowl way before 10am to see if I could score deals. To be honest, I was overwhelmed!!!! I don’t go to many flea markets..actually I think I’ve been to one. I usually hit up estate and yard sales for my deals. So, I didn’t really know my prices and I was a bit nervous to buy anything in fear that it would be a piece of…well you get the idea.

Well, that’s where Eddie’s little trip totally helped! Our group was fun, enthusiastic and ready for those deals and finds. Eddie was SO informative and full of so many wonderful, creative ideas for gifts, decorating, and general antique knowledge. He and Jaithan are the sweetest guys and so down to earth. I wish I could bundle up their positive energy for myself. Really, truely,…these guys are the real deal!

With Jaithan and Eddie!

One particular highlight of the day was meeting the bloggers behind some of the blogs I follow and admire. The three girls were none other than Grace from Grace Happens, Alex who owns Rustic Rooster Interiors and Melissa from Seagrass Interiors who works as a junior designer at the Rooster. I was thrilled to finally meet the Rooster chicks from Encinitas, CA and will definitely be taking a day trip down there very soon to check out the store!

Me, Melissa, Grace and Alexandra

It was awesome that they came to the event because the three of them had a design sense similar to my own. Since I didn’t take a friend with me, I kept bouncing ideas off them and getting their approval on some things I was seeing and liking. Thanks girls for putting up with me!

I found this gorgeous mirror with the scallop shell at the top for over our living room fireplace. Its a bit more Shabby Chic than I had planned on going with, but I’m liking it a lot. But, knowing me I’ll decide it isn’t right and want something else. And that actually is fine because it would look great in our guest room which is beachy with white painted furniture.

Oh, and did you notice the cane woven demijohns on the mantel? Those were my first find of the day and I LOVE them!

Well the living room is coming along slowly but surely. Still need tables and some other things, but its coming together. Any thoughts…opinions?

On another note, this sweet little Craigslist find from this past Fall is still sitting in our living room. I’m perplexed…do I paint it, leave it alone?? I can’t find any markings to give me an idea of how old it is. It doesn’t have any veneer. Its solid wood! I think that means its older than say 1950s. But after hearing all of Eddie’s great ideas this weekend I’m feeling like painting it and adding new hardware like…..

I also have quite a large collection of blue and white dishes and pottery. I’ve been collecting it since I was in high school as blue is my fav color! Eddie talked about these plates while on our tour Sunday and I snatched them up quick!

Flow Blue plates…a little chipped, not perfect, but beautiful!

This one is my favorite!

So it was a good trip and I met lots of new people who I hope to see again! Well, I’m off to fabric shop for an e-decorating client who lives—–>

Can you tell I’m just a wee bit excited? Did you get my pictures…the rose and then the bowl? hahahaha! I crack myself up!

I will be sure to take pics and share everything on Monday. I am so hoping for fantastic deals and great finds! And while I’m away I will have corned beef and cabbage cooking away in the slow cooker for our meal with friends in the evening. Should be a fabulous Sunday!

I know, I know…I promised to show pictures of our newly redone powder room on Monday. I swear, it’s almost done. Today I have the little one going to a sitter for a few hours, so I can buy some finishing touches (shower curtain mainly). Also, a while back I wrote about another bath remodel in our home. Well, I never quite gave you guys the “after” lowdown. Let’s just say, things didn’t exactly go smoothly. We fired the original contractor, hired another set of guys to finish the job, we had to redo part of the tile that had been done wrong…ugh..! What a nightmare! But it is done and so I want to show that bath to you as well!

So hold tight kids! Pictures are a coming your way!

On another note, I haven’t checked Tracery Interiors blog for a while and so I did so this morning when I woke up far earlier than I normally do and decided to surf the web. I’m in love with a dining room on their site…

So simple, so elegant. And look at that gorgeous chandelier!!!

I just love the beautiful arrangement of plates on the wall as well. I’m a BIG fan of hanging plates and already have my blue and white collection hanging in our kitchen/breakfast area. I’m thinking now of hanging some of my ironstone in the dining room to recreate this look!

A subtle design was painted onto the walls of the room. I love how it gives just a barely there look…feminine but subtle. Lovely. And that antique Tuscan sconce..wowzers…again, beautiful.